Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for selectively archiving medical imaging data. The method comprises receiving criteria to selectively archive medical imaging data. The criteria may include but is not limited to, for example, one of the following: modality, procedure code, institution, department, physician, data type, patient demographics. The method may also include acquiring medical imaging data. The medical imaging data may have associated information, for example header information or image data. The method may also include comparing the associated information with the criteria. The medical images having associated information that satisfies the criteria is archived and the medical images having associated information that does not satisfy the criteria is discarded.